An era of Tibetan history came to an end this week with the death at age 91 of Dorje Wangdak Dongtotsang in Kathmandu.

The elected ruler and resistance leader of Kham in eastern Tibet, Dorje twice escorted the Dalai Lama out of the country to safety in India at great personal risk. Immortalised in such movies as Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet, he had led a quiet and reflective life in Nepal as head of an extensive family, honoured for his unfailing kindness and understanding despite the loss of his beloved country which stayed in his heart until the end. Dorje was cremated at daybreak on Tuesday at Swyambhunath at a function attended by 550 monks and nuns.